What is the NASCAR Hall of Fame?: Opened on May 11, 2010 in Uptown Charlotte, NC, the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, interactive exhibits, 275-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, Sports Avenue retail outlet and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000 square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. nascarhall.com.

The Induction Process (updated/changed in 2013): NASCAR announced a number of changes to the selection process for the NASCAR Hall of Fame (NHOF), including a modification to driver eligibility parameters and the creation of a new award to honor significant contributions to the growth and success of the sport. In all, six changes and updates will be made starting with the selection of the Class of 2015 - all designed to improve upon an already strong process that has led to the selection of 25 deserving inductees. Following is a summary of changes:Driver Eligibility: Currently, drivers who have competed in NASCAR for at least 10 years and been retired for three years are eligible for nomination to the NHOF. That will not change. Moving forward, however, drivers who have competed for a minimum of 10 years and reached their 55th birthday on or before Dec. 31 of the year prior to the nominating year are immediately eligible for the NHOF. Also, any competitor who has competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR competition by Dec. 31 of the year prior to the nominating year is automatically eligible, regardless of age. Drivers may continue to compete after reaching any of the aforementioned milestones without compromising eligibility for nomination or induction.Nominating Committee Will Select Five Fewer Nominees for Enshrinement: Throughout its history, the NHOF Nominating Committee has selected 25 nominees each year to be discussed and voted on for NHOF enshrinement. That number will be reduced to 20 starting with the selection process for the 2015 class.Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR: Beginning with the 2015 class, a new award - Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR - will be initiated to honor significant contributions to the growth and esteem of NASCAR. Potential Landmark Award recipients could include competitors or those working in the sport as a member of a racing organization, track facility, race team, sponsor, media partner or being a general ambassador for the sport through a professional or non-professional role. Award winners will remain eligible for NHOF enshrinement. Five nominees will be selected by the NHOF Nominating Committee and then be voted on by the Voting Panel. To win the award, an individual must appear on at least 60 percent of the ballots and no more than one award will be presented annually. Voting for this award will occur immediately following the voting for the NHOF class and be monitored by the same independent accounting firm that oversees NHOF voting.Nominating Committee to Meet, Vote on 20 NHOF Nominees / Five Landmark Award Nominees: For the first time, the Nominating Committee will meet in person to discuss, debate and vote to create two ballots - the NHOF ballot and the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR ballot. Previously, the committee submitted nominees via mail to an independent accounting firm that tallies the nominations in order to create the final NHOF ballot. The Nominating Committee will meet during Speedweeks at Daytona on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, and the nominees for both ballots will be announced later that day.Nominees To Be Recused From the Nominating / Voting Process: Any member of the Nominating Committee or Voting Panel who appeared on the previous year's ballot or current year's ballot will now be recused from participating in the nominating and / or voting process for as long as he / she appears on the ballot. If an individual who is currently on the Nominating Committee or Voting Panel is inducted, or is no longer included on a final ballot, he or she is immediately reinstated to active participation on the panel(s).Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Added To Voting Panel: As was already announced on Nov. 14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway during the annual NASCAR Championship Contenders Press Conference, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will be added to the following year's voting panel. That means Jimmie Johnson, who captured his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, will be included in the selection meeting and can cast a vote for the NHOF Class of 2015 on Voting Day, Wednesday, May 21, 2014.(NASCAR)(12-5-2013)

Tickets for the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale and can be purchased at NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military with ID, $12.95 for children 5-12 and free for children younger than 5. Memberships provide unlimited entry for one year and start at $25 for children and $50 for adults. Group discounts, facility rentals and sponsorships also are available by calling 704-654-4400.(as of 1-23-2016)

NEWS about the NASCAR HALL of FAME

Gordon remains eligible to NHOF class of 2019: Jeff Gordon will remain eligible for the 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame class as a NASCAR spokesman confirmed his coming out of retirement to substitute for eight races for Dale Earnhardt Jr. won't count against the two-year waiting period for Gordon to be on the ballot. He will be eligible to be on the ballot in 2018 for the 2019 class. NASCAR spokesman Kurt Culbert: "Jeff's eligibility status for the NASCAR Hall of Fame remains unchanged. The unique situation in which he drove last year was as a substitute. As it stands, Jeff can be nominated in 2018 for the class of 2019."(ESPN)(2-8-2017)

New class added to NASCAR Hall of Fame: A World War II vet. A taxi-cab driver. A son of a tobacco farmer. A former popcorn salesman at a short track. And the son of an Arkansas trucker. No wonder the inductees in the 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame class could be characterized as possibly the most humble of the eight classes in hall history.
"I can't tell you how it feels to stand up in front of you tonight," said Mark Martin, who won 40 races in his career. "It's a feeling that my words could never do justice. To say it's an honor would be an understatement. To say it's a culmination it's a life-long dream is a fact. It's an honor beyond the wildest imagination of a kid from Arkansas that just loved to drive fast cars and win races."
Martin was joined by one other driver, Benny Parsons, as well as three accomplished car owners -- Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress and Raymond Parks -- in the five-member class inducted Friday night.
Hendrick, who left the family tobacco farm to follow his passion of automobiles both as a salesman and as a racer, has won 12 Cup titles as an owner, seven with Jimmie Johnson, four with Jeff Gordon and one with Terry Labonte. "I can tell you that the feelings that I have for this sport and for all the people in it, ... when it's all over, it's the people that you touch and the lives you change that make a difference in this world," Hendrick said. That passion took him to nearby Martinsville (Va.) Speedway as a kid, and he still goes to races there despite his having lost his brother and son among other family members and team members in a plane crash on the way to the October 2004 race at the track. "I love this sport," Hendrick said. "I love the fact that we are a family. I love the fact that when I had the tragedy that all these folks, Richard Childress included, every owner, everybody in the garage reached out to us, and they were there for us."
"We compete on Sunday, but we are there for each other in a time of real tragedy." Childress, who sold peanuts and popcorn at Bowman Gray Stadium as a kid, has six Cup titles with Dale Earnhardt and also five titles across the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. His grandsons, Austin and Ty Dillon, are current Cup drivers. Childress' big break came as an owner/driver when many others boycotted the inaugural Talladega race in 1969 and Childress was one of the drivers who competed for the extra money. "I left that day with probably more money than I'd ever seen at once in my life -- probably $3-4,000," Childress said. "I didn't think I'd ever have to work again. Hell, I'm still working."
Parsons, a former taxi-cab driver in Detroit, won the 1973 Cup title and 21 races in his career. He also had a big impact as part of the media, working as a commentator for ESPN broadcasts from 1989-2000 and then at NBC and TNT until his death in 2007. Citing Parsons' passion for the fans, his widow, Terri Parsons, said his Hall of Fame ring would be put on display at the Hall so fans could see what one of the rings looks like.
Parks, a World War II veteran, won the inaugural Cup title in 1949 as an owner but his impact was more as a confidante and consultant for NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. in the formation of the sanctioning body. Parks died in 2010. "I asked him how did you get into racing, and in less than 10 minutes, he told me his whole life story," said Parks granddaughter Patricia DePottey about her soft-spoken grandfather. "His story was, 'Well, I got some cars, and I just started winning."(ESPN.com)(1-20-2017)

NASCAR Hall of Fame induction tonight; live coverage on NBCSN, MRN: NBCSN presents live coverage of the 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony - celebrating the eighth NASCAR Hall of Fame class - Friday, January 20 at 8:00pm/et, from the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. The two-hour special honors renowned car owner and former driver Richard Childress, 12-time NASCAR Premier Series Championship team owner Rick Hendrick, 40-time Premier Series race winner Mark Martin, one of NASCAR's earliest and most successful car owners Raymond Parks, and 1973 Premier Series Champion and television commentator Benny Parsons. In addition, stock car auto racing pioneer H. Clay Earles will be recognized with the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR, and veteran motorsports journalist Benny Phillips will be celebrated with the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence. NASCAR on NBC host Krista Voda and lead race announcer Rick Allen will co-host the 2017 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Legendary NASCAR commentator Ken Squier will narrate the show open, which commemorates the 2017 Hall of Fame class and pays homage to the institution itself.(NBC Sports)AND "The Voice of NASCAR" - will open its 2017 broadcast schedule with exclusive radio coverage of Friday's eighth annual NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony from Charlotte, N.C. Mike Bagley and Woody Cain will anchor the network's live broadcast from the Charlotte Convention Center with five more legends being enshrined as the Class of 2017. Air time is 8:00pm/et with the program to be heard on MRN affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90 nationwide. Digitally it will be streamed live worldwide at www.MRN.com and on the free MRN App.(1-20-2017)

Free NASCAR Hall of Fame Admission, Driver Autographs highlight NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day: In what has become a much-anticipated season kick-off event, NASCAR will offer FREE admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day. That's just one of the many exciting offerings during the day-long celebration of NASCAR's passionate fans, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 21 in Charlotte, NC. NASCAR stars past and present will participate in autograph and Q&A sessions throughout the day, in addition to free access to the Hall. Fans will be admitted into the Hall on a first-come, first-served basis in lieu of needing a ticket. Doors open at 8:00am/et. However, tickets to some of the autograph sessions must be secured in advance. Tickets for these autograph sessions will be available for free on NASCARHall.com starting at 10:00am/et on Saturday, Jan. 7. Each fan can secure up to two tickets for one of the seven autograph sessions (one ticket for an individual or two tickets for an individual and their guest). More info and list of drivers at nascarhall.com.
NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day will follow the previous evening's NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony (Jan. 20, 8:00pm/et on NBCSN). As in previous years, current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stars will help present each inductee. Scheduled to present at this year's induction ceremony are seven-time premier series champion Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon. For tickets to the Induction Ceremony, visit nascarhall.com/inductees/induction-ceremony. (1-6-2017)

Attendance up, revenue down at NASCAR Hall of Fame: Revenue declined by $300,000 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame during the fiscal year that ended last summer, according to new annual figures compiled by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, but whether the racing museum finally broke even remains unresolved. Executives at the visitors authority and the hall of fame attributed the 4.6% decline in revenue, to $6.2 million, from 2015 to a slower booking year at the neighboring convention center. Revenue slipped by 12% at the convention center during fiscal 2016. Still, the visitors authority cited an increase in attendance and other business trends at the hall of fame as signs of stability. Attendance increased by 4,000 to 170,500 for the fiscal year, up from 166,559 in fiscal 2015. City government executives and the visitors authority have said in recent years the taxpayer-owned hall of fame is moving closer to a break-even financial performance. Ron Kimble, interim city manager, told CBJ last fall that the NASCAR museum reduced losses to $500,000 in fiscal 2015. At the time, he told CBJ the hall of fame would break even in fiscal 2016. Each fiscal year runs from July 1 to the following June 30; at present, the hall of fame is in fiscal 2017.(Charlotte Business Journal)(11-16-2016)

2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Tickets On Sale Now: Beginning today, tickets for the 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are available to the public. Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks and Benny Parsons will be honored during this year's ceremony set for Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. Induction ticket prices range from $45 for general seats to $350 for the Exclusive Driver Dinner Package. Drivers, celebrities and legends of the sport will take the stage during this premier celebration that will honor the eighth class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. And it's an intriguing class filled with a mix of legends who both built the sport and ushered it into the massive popularity it enjoys today. Prior to the ceremony, a special Induction Dinner at the Charlotte Convention Center, which is connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, will include a jacket presentation for the living inductees and an award presentation honoring Benny Phillips, the recipient of the sixth Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence. Returning this year, fans also have the exclusive opportunity to purchase a seat for the dinner that puts them at a table with a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver (limited quantities are available). After dinner, the Induction Ceremony will take place in the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center and will honor the five Class of 2017 inductees as well as H. Clay Earles, the third recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Following the ceremony, a special NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day will take place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. More details on driver appearances, activities and programming for this day will be announced at a later date. Ticket and package options at nascarhall.com.(NASCAR HOF)(10-4-2016)

NASCAR Hall of Fame hit during protests: The NASCAR Hall of Fame was among the sites hit by vandals, when peaceful protests turned into violent late Wednesday in Charlotte. On Thursday morning, a street sign hung like a spear from the front window of the hall's news center, after vandals tried prying out one of the front windows. Windows in the lobby of the adjacent NASCAR Tower were busted out, as were windows at nearby restaurants and two hotels. The looters apparently failed to get into the Hall of Fame and its exhibits, though there are reports of confrontations with a half a dozen looters inside the Buffalo Wild Wing restaurant at one corner of the hall building. An official with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority said they were working early Thursday to assess damage to the NASCAR Hall of Fame building and adjacent convention center, and would release a statement soon.(Charlotte Observer)(9-22-2016)

Five Legends Unveiled as 2017 NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class: NASCAR announced the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017. The five-person group - the eighth since the inception of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 - consists of Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks and Benny Parsons. In addition, NASCAR announced that Martinsville Speedway founder H. Clay Earles won the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote upon the 20 nominees for the induction class of 2017 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton announced the class and Landmark Award winner, respectively, this evening in the NASCAR Hall of Fame's "Great Hall."
The Class of 2017 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and, for the third year, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion (Kyle Busch). In all, 54 votes were cast, with four additional Voting Panel members recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Ricky Rudd, Robert Yates, Waddell Wilson and Ken Squier). The accounting firm of EY presided over the tabulation of the votes.Voting was as follows: Benny Parsons (85%), Rick Hendrick (62%), Mark Martin (57%), Raymond Parks (53%) and Richard Childress (43%).
The next top vote-getters were Robert Yates, Red Byron and Alan Kulwicki.Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Buddy Baker, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Benny Parsons and Larry Phillips.
The five inductees came from a group of 20 nominees that included, in addition to the five inductees chosen: Buddy Baker, Red Byron, Ray Evernham, Ray Fox, Ron Hornaday Jr., Harry Hyde, Alan Kulwicki, Hershel McGriff, Larry Phillips, Jack Roush, Ricky Rudd, Ken Squier, Mike Stefanik, Waddell Wilson and Robert Yates. Nominees for the Landmark Award included Earles, Janet Guthrie, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Ken Squier.Class of 2017 Inductees:Richard Childress
Long before he became one of the preeminent car owners in NASCAR history, Richard Childress was a race car driver with limited means. Childress, the consummate self-made racer, was respectable behind the wheel. Between 1969-81 he had six top-five finishes and 76 top 10s in 285 starts, finishing fifth in the NASCAR premier series standings in 1975. Having formed Richard Childress Racing in 1972, Childress retired from driving in 1981. He owned the cars that NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt drove to six championships and 67 wins between 1984-2000. In addition to Earnhardt's championships, Childress drivers have given him five others. Childress was the first NASCAR owner to win owner championships in all three of NASCAR's national series, and his 11 owner titles are second all time. Childress also owned the vehicles driven by NASCAR XFINITY Series driver champions Clint Bowyer (2008) and Austin Dillon (2013), as the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver champion Austin Dillon.Rick Hendrick
The founder and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick's organization is recognized as one of NASCAR's most successful. Hendrick Motorsports owns an all-time record 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner championship titles - six with Jimmie Johnson, four with Jeff Gordon and one with NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte. Hendrick also has 14 total NASCAR national series owner championships, most in NASCAR history. Gordon and Labonte combined to win four consecutive titles from 1995-98. In 2010, Johnson won a record-extending fifth consecutive championship. Hendrick also owned the car driven by 2003 NASCAR XFINITY Series driver champion Brian Vickers. Hendrick's 242 owner wins in the premier series rank second all-time.Mark Martin
He is often described as the "greatest driver to never to win a championship," but Mark Martin's legendary career is so much more than that. He came incredibly close to that elusive title many times - finishing second in the championship standings five times. Over the course of his 31-year premier series career, Martin compiled 40 wins (17th all time) and 56 poles (seventh all time). Martin saw success at every level of NASCAR. He won 49 times in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, holding the series wins record for 14 years. He retired with 96 wins across NASCAR's three national series, seventh on the all-time list. In 1998, Martin was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers.Raymond Parks
Raymond Parks is one of stock-car racing's earliest - and most successful - team owners. Funded by successful business and real estate ventures in Atlanta, Parks began his career as a stock-car owner in 1938 with drivers Lloyd Seay and Roy Hall. His pairing with another Atlantan, mechanic Red Vogt, produced equipment good enough to dominate the sport in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Red Byron won the first NASCAR title (modified, 1948) and first premier series title (1949) in a Parks-owned car. Parks' team produced two premier series wins, two poles, 11 top fives and 12 top 10s in 18 events.Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons won the 1973 NASCAR premier series championship and could be called an everyman champion: winning enough to be called one of the sport's stars but nearly always finishing well when he wasn't able to reach Victory Lane. He won 21 times in 526 career starts but finished among the top 10 283 times - a 54 percent ratio. One of Parsons' biggest victories came in the 1975 Daytona 500. He was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. Parsons also was known as a voice of the sport making a seamless transition to television following his NASCAR career. He was a commentator for NBC and TNT until his passing in 2007, at the age of 65.Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR:H. Clay Earles
One of the original pioneers of stock car auto racing, H. Clay Earles played an integral role in the early years of NASCAR's development. Earles built and opened Martinsville Speedway in 1947, and the short track remains the only facility to host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races every year since the series' inception in 1949. The speedway held its first race on Sept. 7, 1947 - three months before the creation of NASCAR. That initial race drew more than 6,000 fans to the track, which had just 750 seats ready. In 1964, Earles decided it was time for a "different" type of trophy for his race winners. He gave winners grandfather clocks, a tradition that continues today.(NASCAR)(5-25-2016

NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 announced UPDATE: The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 and winner of the 2017 Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR is scheduled to be announced on Wednesday, May 25th at 5:00pm/et following a vote by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel. The five NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees will be selected from the list of 20 nominees, and the third Landmark Award recipient will be chosen from the list of five nominees. The announcement will air live on NBCSN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NASCAR.com and MRN.com.(NHOF), more info on the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the list of the nominees on Jayski.com's NASCAR Hall of Fame page (5-23-2016)UPDATE: 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class was announced Wednesday afternoon:Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national seriesRick Hendrick, 14-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national seriesMark Martin, 96-time race winner in NASCAR national series competitionRaymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car ownerBenny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier series champion
The Landmark Award winner is H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway
(5-25-2016)

NASCAR Hall of Fame Fan Vote underway: NASCAR fans are invited to cast their votes for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 by participating in the annual Fan Vote. Fans are encouraged to vote for five of the 20 nominees for the Class of 2017. The top five vote-getters, as voted upon by the fans, will make up one of the ballots from the Voting Panel that will be used to tabulate the results for the NHOF Class of 2017 on Voting Day, Wednesday, May 25. Voting opens at 12:01am Tuesday, April 5 and closes on 12:01am Monday, May 23 at www.NASCAR.com/halloffame.(NASCAR)(4-5-2016)

NASCAR Announces Nominees For NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017, Landmark Award: Legendary engine builders, crew chiefs, owners, drivers and the most recognizable voice in motorsports. The talents, eras and levels may differ, but all share a common thread. They shaped NASCAR, and on Wednesday, they were recognized as nominees for the highest honor the sport bestows - enshrinement into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. NASCAR today announced the 20 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Class of 2017, as well as the five nominees for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Included among the list are five first-time nominees, all legends who made excellence a habit through their various contributions to the sport. Among them are record-holding four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr.; the man with the most car owner wins in NASCAR national series history with 322, Jack Roush; former all-time consecutive starts leader Ricky Rudd; legendary motorsports broadcasting pioneer Ken Squier; and three-time premier series champion engine builder and three-time Daytona 500-winning crew chief Waddell Wilson. The nominees were selected by a nominating committee consisting of representatives from NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from both major facilities and historic short tracks and the media. The committee's votes were tabulated by accounting firm Ernst & Young. From the list of 20 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees, five inductees will be elected by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, which includes a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.com. Voting Day for the 2017 class will be Wednesday, May 25. Added to this year's list of Landmark Award nominees is Janet Guthrie - the first female driver to compete in a NASCAR premier series superspeedway race. The four returning nominees for the Landmark Award are H. Clay Earles, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Squier . Potential Landmark Award recipients include competitors or those working in the sport as a member of a racing organization, track facility, race team, sponsor, media partner or being a general ambassador for the sport through a professional or non-professional role. Award winners remain eligible for NHOF enshrinement. Following are the 20 nominees for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, listed alphabetically:
Buddy Baker, won 19 times in NASCAR's premier (now Sprint Cup) series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national seriesRay Evernham, three-time NASCAR premier series championship crew chiefRay Fox, legendary engine builder, crew chief and car ownerRick Hendrick, 14-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national seriesRon Hornaday, four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championHarry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR premier series championship crew chiefAlan Kulwicki, 1992 NASCAR premier series championMark Martin, 96-time race winner in NASCAR national series competitionHershel McGriff, 1986 NASCAR west series championRaymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car ownerBenny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier series championLarry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR weekly series national championJack Roush, five-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national seriesRicky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR's premier series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner/namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media ExcellenceMike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championshipsWaddell Wilson, won three NASCAR premier series championships as an engine builderRobert Yates, won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner
The five nominees for the Landmark Award, listed alphabetically, are as follows...H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville SpeedwayJanet Guthrie, the first female to compete in a NASCAR premier series superspeedway raceRaymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car ownerRalph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco CompanyKen Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner / namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence
(NASCAR)(2-24-2016)

2016 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Honors Five Of Sport's Greatest: Five of NASCAR's iconic figures - four drivers and one motorsports entrepreneur - were enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina this afternoon during the Induction Ceremony held in the Crown Ball Room at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Those who added their names to the list of now 35 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, included: Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, O. Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner. The group makes up the Hall's seventh class in its history.Jerry Cook made his name in the modified division, winning six NASCAR Modified championships, including four consecutively from 1974-77. He joins his rival from his hometown of Rome, New York, Richie Evans, as only the second Hall of Fame driver whose career wasn't connected to NASCAR's premier series. Cook won 342 NASCAR Modified races in 1,474 starts. Upon his retirement, Cook stayed with the sport and helped shape the series known today as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He served as the series' director and also served as NASCAR's competition administrator. "For me, it's always been NASCAR," Cook said. "I've spent my entire life in the greatest sport in the world and to be honored in this way - tonight - to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame along with the greatest names in the sport - is the pinnacle of my career."
One of NASCAR's original speedsters, Bobby Isaac captured 19 poles in 1969 - a mark that still stands as the record for poles in a single season. His 49 career poles are the 10th-most all time. More than just a strong qualifier, Isaac won the 1970 premier series championship by posting 11 victories, 32 top fives and 38 top 10s in 47 starts. His 37 career wins rank 19th on NASCAR's all-time list. "He died at the age of 45 doing what he loved to do," said Isaac's former spouse, Patsy Isaac. "But he died way too soon. Bobby would've loved this honor."Terry Labonte raced his way to two NASCAR premier series championships, the first in 1984, and the second in 1996. The Texan's 12-year gap between titles is the longest in NASCAR history. A consummate professional, Labonte earned the moniker "Iron Man" thanks to his 655 consecutive starts in NASCAR's premier series, a record which stood until 2002. Labonte won 22 races, bookended by Southern 500 victories in 1980 and 2003. His 361 top-10 finishes ranks 10th all time. "Before, I'd be introduced as a two-time champion," Labonte said. "Now I'll be introduced as a NASCAR Hall of Famer. And I think that's a whole lot cooler."O. Bruton Smith finished building Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1960, the facility that became the foundation of his Speedway Motorsports Inc. empire, which currently owns eight NASCAR tracks hosting 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and additional high-profile motorsports activities. He made SMI the first motorsports company to be traded at the New York Stock Exchange when he took it public in 1995. Smith is the founder of Sonic Automotive group and is active in child-related causes with his philanthropic foundation, Speedway Children's Charities. "I appreciate you all coming. I hope you have a great season, a great racing season," Smith said. "I'm delighted and I'm glad to be a part of the (Hall of Fame) here, this is great."
Nicknamed the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing" for his big-time personality and talent, NASCAR pioneer Curtis Turner remains the only premier series driver to win two consecutive races from the pole leading every lap. Turner notched 17 wins, 54 top fives and 73 top 10s in 184 starts. He is the only driver to win a NASCAR premier series race in a Nash and tallied 38 victories in 79 NASCAR Convertible Division events. In 1972, NASCAR Founder Bill France said, "Curtis Turner was the greatest race car driver I have ever seen." "At day's end and chats catching up, Daddy would always say, anything is possible," said Turner's daughter, Margaret Sue Turner Wright, who accepted on behalf of her father. "And it was, and for us, so it is."
Each of the five inductees had an inductor who officially welcomed them into the hall. The inductors for the five inductees: Robin Pemberton for Jerry Cook; Randy Isaac (son) for Bobby Isaac; Kristy Labonte Garrett (daughter) for Terry Labonte; Darrell Waltrip for Bruton Smith; and Leonard Wood for Curtis Turner.
Active drivers introduced each inductee during tonight's program: Tony Stewart for Jerry Cook; Ryan Newman for Bobby Isaac; Kyle Busch for Terry Labonte; Brad Keselowski for Bruton Smith; and Kevin Harvick for Curtis Turner.
In addition to the five inductees enshrined on Saturday afternoon, Harold Brasington was honored as the second recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Brasington, who believed in the potential of Bill France's fledgling NASCAR business, architected Darlington Raceway in his hometown of Darlington, South Carolina. After completing the project, he expected 10,000 fans to show up at the track, but instead 25,000 spectators showed up for the inaugural Southern 500 - NASCAR's first 500-mile race. The race turned out to be a mega-event that is still run to this day. After building Darlington, Brasington helped create Charlotte Motor Speedway and North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham.
Prior to today's Induction Ceremony, long-time NASCAR broadcaster Steve Byrnes was bestowed the fifth Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence. Byrnes's motorsports broadcasting career spanned more than three decades. He most recently served as the play-by-play announcer for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on FS1 and was the network's co-host of NASCAR Race Hub. Last April, Byrnes passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Throughout his career, Byrnes provided mentorship for countless young broadcasters and provided race fans with quality insight and entertainment as a pit reporter for CBS, TNN, TBS and FOX.(NASCAR)(1-23-2016)

NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony postponed until Saturday: The historic NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Induction Ceremony will take place in the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center and will be broadcast live on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 2:30pm/et on Saturday, January 23, 2016. Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner will officially be enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. In addition, Harold Brasington will be honored as the second recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Induction Ceremony premium seating tickets ($80 plus applicable service fees and taxes) and general seating tickets ($45 plus applicable service fees and taxes) are still available for purchase at nascarhall.com/inductees/induction-ceremony.(1-22-2016)

NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day (canceled) returns to the NASCAR Hall Of Fame Jan. 23 Weather UPDATE: For the third consecutive year, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will open its doors for FREE for NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day. On Saturday, Jan. 23, fans will have free access to the Hall for a full day of activities, including autographs and Q&A sessions with current drivers and NASCAR Hall of Famers. Fans will be admitted into the Hall on a first-come, first-served basis in lieu of needing a ticket. However, tickets to autograph sessions, highlighted by 13-time Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. must be secured in advance. Vouchers for the autograph sessions will be available for free on NASCARHall.com starting at 10:00am/et on Saturday, Jan. 16. Each fan can secure up to two autograph session vouchers. In addition, up-and-coming stars of the NASCAR NEXT program and NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016 inductees Jerry Cook, Terry Labonte and Bruton Smith will participate in Q&A's and autograph signings throughout the day. Advance vouchers are not required for these sessions. Fans in attendance will be among the first to see a series of new exhibits and facility upgrades. Artifacts from all five Class of 2016 inductees will be on display in the Hall of Honor, an exhibit that opens Friday, Jan. 22. Fans can also relive the 2015 NASCAR season with updated Memorable Moments and Champions displays.(NASCAR)(1-10-2016)Weather UPDATE: Due to the inclement weather conditions in the Charlotte region, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will amend its Induction Ceremony and NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day activities this weekend. The NASCAR Hall of Fame will remain open on Friday, Jan. 22. Due to the anticipated ice and snow accumulations during the course of the day, the venue will close early at 2:00pm/et. The Induction Ceremony scheduled for this evening will be moved to Saturday, Jan. 23 beginning at 2:30pm/et and will be aired live on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The event will also be streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra. The Induction Dinner will be adjusted to a luncheon format on Saturday at the Charlotte Convention Center beginning at 1:00pm/et. Activities that were scheduled for today leading up to the Induction Ceremony such as Hall of Famer autograph sessions and the Red Carpet event will be canceled altogether.
In addition, Fan Appreciation Day activities including autograph sessions and programs will be canceled for tomorrow at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The venue will have a delayed opening at 12:00pm/et and will honor the free admission that Fan Appreciation Day offers guests. The venue will close at 5:00pm/et.
For those guests who secured autograph session tickets, the venue is exploring options to accommodate fans, which will be announced by the end of next week. Due to the complexity of NASCAR and driver schedules, unfortunately the Hall will not be able to reschedule a complete day of Fan Appreciation Day programming. Please continue to check NASCAR HOF Facebook and Website.(1-22-2016)

The Induction Process used for the first five classes (2010-2014) Each year five inductees will be selected by a voting panel consisting of NASCAR industry leaders, manufacturer representatives, former competitors, the media and fans. Inductees will be chosen from an annual list of no more than 25 candidates. The main criteria for nomination and induction: NASCAR accomplishments and contributions to the sport.To be eligible
a) Former drivers must have competed 10 years in NASCAR and be retired from racing for a minimum of three years.
b) Non-drivers must have worked at least 10 years in the industry. (Potential candidates with shorter careers may be considered if there are special circumstances.)
After a 21-member nominating committee selects its list of candidates, the voting will entail a total of 53 ballots. Twenty-one ballots will be from the nominating committee; 31 ballots will come from a group consisting of former drivers, former owners, former crew chiefs, manufacturer representatives and media; one ballot will represent the results of a nationwide fan vote.

Attendance figures for the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC:2010
May - 35,090
June - 28,435
July - 33,452
August - 23,539
September - 16,445
October - 27,555
November - 18,585
December - 16,136Total - 197,737 (24,717 a month ave)2011
January - 23,177*
February - 13,091
March - 15,882
April - 20,618 **
May - 25,034
June - 17,604
July - 21,910
August - 16,703
September - 13,054
October - 19,340
November - 15,189
December - 15,428Total - 216,329 (18,027 a month ave)2012
January - ?
February - 12,989
March - 16,270
monthly has not been reported since Feb 2012